Maximize Your Time, Minimize Your Stress

Less is more. In my 30-plus years of running Impact Consulting Enterprises, I’ve known countless business owners who’ve felt overwhelmed because they, like me, had so much to do in seemingly so little time. How many of us say, “It seems like time is moving faster than ever?” In fact, the struggle with time management dates back to the Second Industrial Revolution between 1870 and 1914, and one of the first books ever written on the subject was The Principles of Scientific Management by Frederick Winslow Taylor in 1911.

Although the same time-management challenges exist, our approach is a little different now than it was centuries ago. Here’s what I’ve learned.

Lesson #1: Know When to Say No

Oftentimes, we believe that we shouldn’t turn down business, since more opportunities provide more revenue. But you should first always consider your business’ capacity to take on more work. Don’t make rash or impulsive decisions around acquiring new business. Make sure you and your staff are positioned to win.

Lesson #2: Stay True to Your Brand

Make sure new clients and customers align with your business capabilities, that you can meet their expectations, and that they don’t stretch you in ways you’re not prepared to serve.

Lesson #3: Trust Your Team

Trust that your team will execute effectively and that they will make the right assessments and adjustments even if something goes wrong. To be able to trust your team, you must hire the right people. So, take more time on the front end to screen, interview, and assess your candidates. A longer, better-planned onboarding process beats fixing and repairing mistakes made by the wrong workers. It will save time, resources, and your sanity in the long run. #DYK Less is more?

Lesson #4: Streamline Your Processes

Less can really be more – even in business, and technology can help. There are a variety of new programs and applications that can simplify operations to make them run more effectively and efficiently. If you consider yourself slow to incorporate new technology, take a course, hire a coach, or hire an expert for your team.  The investment is absolutely worth it.

Lesson # 5: Stay Ahead of the Trends

This is one of the biggest challenges for businesses. Companies like Blockbuster, Toys R Us, Polaroid, and Nokia lost their standing in the marketplace because they ignored all the technology trends that were transforming how customers acquired the goods and services they supplied. Don’t be so consumed with managing your business that you lose sight of the changes in business and consumer appetites. You can forecast the future by staying informed about and acknowledging trends that impact society. Remember, sometimes less is more.

Your Marketing Momma,

Cheryl McCants ~ Impact President and CEO